Abstract 12158: Population Thresholds for Systematically Applying Nurse-Led Chronic Heart Failure Management Programs to Reduce Recurrent Hospitalization and Prolong Survival

Background: In many countries, a jurisdictional (regional or health fund membership) approach to applying nurse-led, multidisciplinary management programs for high risk individuals hospitalized with chronic heart failure (CHF) has led to their inconsistent application. A health service perspective was therefore used to determine the overall value of funding services for a whole population. Methods: Data from a contemporary study of the burden of CHF in Australia (population ~ 24 million of whom ~25% live in regional settings) to identify the number of de novo admissions for CHF per annum (n=19,397) were used. From these we estimated the proportion of cases readmitted (63% - all cause), days of related hospitalization (44,500 days from 5,300 admissions) and case-fatality (27%) within 12 months. Health economic data from a recent multicentre trial of CHF management were then applied to estimate the cost impact ($US) of applying gold-standard management to de novo CHF cases. Results: Total health care expend...